Boot cleaner



Z Z /0 32 J J W f 3/ 8 /8 I .Z 29 3? H 5- a I I II W Z /0 z 5 1 \9 7/ II I 2 6 74 A9 3/ gwue/wfo'v 611mm r I I Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES GODFREY J. IKADAVY, F OMAHA, N EBBASKA BOOT CLEANER Application filed December 22, 1930. Serial No. 504,145.

This invention aims to provide a novel shoe scraper for autos, which will be conveniently accessible for use, and hidden when not in use, and in the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Figure 2 is a perspective view.

The. device is made of metal, and it in eludes a box-like casing 1 embodying a bottom 11, side walls 10, a forward end wall 5, and a rear end wall 32, the casing being open at the top and having, on its side walls 10, ears 2 with holes 3 for screws or the like, by which the casing can be held on the lower surface of the running board A of an automobile, the forward end wall 5 of the casing 1 being disposed closely adjacent to the forward edge 6 of the running board 4.

In the end wall 5 of the casing 1 there is a rectangular opening 7 from which spaced, vertical slots 8 extend upwardly. Inwardly projecting guide studs 9 are mounted on the side walls 10, near to the forward end of the casing.

On the bottom 11 of the casing 1, and through the opening 7, a box-like slide 12 is mounted for reciprocation. An upstanding lip 14 is struck at 15 from the inner end wall 16 of the slide 12. There is a projection 17 on the forward end wall 5 of the casing 1. A pull spring 18, located within the easing 1, is connected to the projection 17 of the casing 1 and to the lip 14 on the rear end of the slide 12.

The side walls 19 of the slide 12 have longitudinal slots 20, receiving the guide studs 9 of the casing 1. The front wall 21 of the slide 12 has a depending extension 22.

A vertical latch bolt 23 slides in guides 33 on the front wall 21 of the member 12 and has its upper end bevelled at 2%. On the lower end of the latch bolt 23 there is a rectangular foot plate 25, extended forwardly with respect to the front wall 21 of the slide 12. The upper end of a retractile spring 26 is connected to a lug 27 on the top 29 of the slide 12, and the lower end of the the projection 28 and the lower end of the spring 26, when the slide 12 is pushed backwardly into the casing, as shown in Figure 1. Vertical, longitudinal blades 31 are struck at 32 from the top 29 of the slide 12, and reciprocate in the slots 8 which are formed in the end walls f the casing 1.

With the parts arranged as shown in F igure 1, the operator puts his foot on the plate 25 and pulls down the latch bolt 23, against the action of the spring 26, until the upper end of the latch bolt is free from the forward end wall 5 of the casing 1. Then the spring 18 pulls the slide 12 into the position of Figure 2. The operator scrapes the mud off his shoes, on the blades 31. The mud falls through the openings 32 formed in the making of the blades 31, and the loosened mud drops to the ground, because the slide 12 has no bottom.

When the occasion for the use of the device has passed, the operator shoves the slide 12 back with his foot, until the foremost guide studs 9 arrive at the forward ends of the slots 20 and serve as stops, limiting the inward movement of the slide, and preventing the end wall of the slide from knocking against the end wall 32 of the casing 1. Be-

cause the latch bolt 23 has the bevelled end ture selected as an illustration of my inven- 1 tion, without departing from the spirit.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A boot cleaner comprising abox-like casing provided in its forward end wall with a rectangular opening and with vertical slots extended upwardly from the opening, a boxlilre slide mounted to reciprocate in the opening and supported on the bottom of the easing, the slide being provided on its top with vertical blades slidable in the slots, the top of the slide having holes located immediately adjacent to the blades, the area of the holes being equal to the area of the blades, the slide having a slot in its side, a guide stud on the side of the casing and extended into the slot to limit the outward movement of the slide, a pull spring connected to the forward end wall of the casing and to the rear end of the slide and housed within the casing, above the slide, and latch means holding the slide releasably in the casing: the blades forming dirt scrapers and stiffening reenforcements for the slide, and the blades being spaced far enough apart so that the spring can be received between them when the slide is in the casing, the top of the casing being open to permit the insertion of the spring, and the bottom of the slide being open to let out the dirt that falls through the holes, and to give access to the stud when the slide is advanced.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

GODFREY J. KADAVY. 

